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The second edition of the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention ("Parliamentarians Network" or "PN") newsletter features a range of insightful articles and interviews by our MPs on topics including the difficulties faced by women MPs in Afghanistan, the recent election process in Sudan, the escalation of tensions between North and South Korea and the recently drafted European Strategy for the Caucasus.

In our feature article, Ambassador Ischinger offers a frank discussion on his opinion on the future of NATO and Russia, and their interactions in a time of globalized security threats.

Angelika Beer,
Chair of the Parliamentarians Network

Conflict prevention and the European External Action Service

Amidst the ongoing debates on the format and structure of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Parliamentarians Network understood the urge to include conflict prevention into the proposal, at its early stage of creation.

In the light of HR Baroness Ashton’s public commitments to mainstream conflict prevention across the remit of the EEAS, the Parliamentarians Network considered this a unique opportunity to put conflict prevention in the limelight and integrate it within this body with unprecedented reach and capacity.

Conflict prevention is not only a humanitarian must, it is also an economic necessity. Pledging to consolidate stability and peace through the championing role of Parliamentarians, the Parliamentarians Network strongly endorsed the explicit mention of conflict prevention and the inclusion of a specialized unit within the current EEAS proposal. For this purpose, it sent an advocacy letter to the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the twenty seven EU member countries and MEPs working on the project.

The document is designed to provide MEPs with suggestions on the integration of conflict prevention and the proposed unit, so that, instead of an unstated intent, it becomes a concrete objective of the EEAS.

Click here to read a copy of the PN Letter on the European External Action Service.

Russia, NATO and the Euro-Atlantic Security Strategy

German diplomat, former ambassador to the United States and Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger is also the Chairman of the prestigious Munich Security Conference. In an interview with the PN, Ambassador Ischinger discussed some of the key security issues of the upcoming Munich Security Conference agenda in 2011.

Ambassador Ischinger declared that in his view arms control and disarmament (nuclear and conventional) were the most serious challenges facing humanity. On this topic, he stated that it was imperative for the US and Russia to take the shared lead in addressing this issue. This is the reason why he will try to make the issue of arms control an important point on the agenda of the upcoming Munich Security Conference.

Speaking about NATO and Russia, Ambassador Ischinger sees positive signs for NATO in the current US-Russia dialogue, as the two countries recognize the globalized aspect of security threats and the need for a wider approach to deal with them. He called for closer NATO-Russia cooperation, not just on organisational structures but also on practical areas of common interest such as technology, science and industry.

However, while Ambassador Ischinger expressed his support for the Rühe-Naumann proposal for an open door policy towards Russia, he also pointed out the complexities of NATO enlargement and stated that he was not in support of a global NATO.

Click here to read the full transcript of Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger interview.

Insights into challenges of Women MPs in Afghanistan

Ms. Shinkai Karokhail, MP in the Afghanistan National Assembly, recently shared with the Parliamentarians Network her views about the difficulties of being a female MP in a conflict area, and her opinions on the participation of women in the upcoming Peace Jirga and the parliamentary elections.

Although women have been allocated some places in the upcoming Peace Jirga, "and number wise the situation is not very bad, we are very concerned about the way those that will represent Afghan women are going to be selected", declared Ms. Karokhail. “We cannot just send any woman to the Peace Jirga! What kind of woman is going to sit in the Council is very important, as well as how she should speak and how she should advocate women’s rights”, continued MP. Karokhail.

Speaking about women MPs in Afghanistan, Shinkai Karokhail describes the many challenges they face. Women running for parliamentary elections have a lot of difficulties in accessing funding for their campaign, and encounter many problems due to the security situation, which severely limits their ability to travel. Once elected, Afghan women MPs are new to parliamentary rules and have not yet formed the alliances and groups that male parliamentarians have done. “My experience in the Parliament taught me that it is not the number of females that is important; but that it is the quality of the person we are bringing in the Parliament”, concludes Ms. Karokhail.

Click here to read the full transcript of the interview with MP Sinkai Karokhail.

The EU and Sudan

Ms. Ana Gomes, a Portugese MEP, recently headed the European Parliament Observer Mission to monitor the Presidential elections in Sudan. According to Ms. Gomes the process clearly did not meet international standards for democratic elections. For this reason, she raises a strong criticism of the elected regime and highlights the paramount role the EU has to play.

Ms. Gomes provides an in depth analysis of the question of an independent Southern Sudan, and its potential ripple effects, in the country as well as in the region. In a strongly worded report, she criticizes the EU Council for its lenient assessment and disregard of questions related to the current election process. A lack of interest she attributes to the EU Council's renewed attention for the upcoming referendum, which may lead to independence of South Sudan and open access to its oil fields.

According to Ms. Gomes, the destiny of both the North and South are intertwined and the EU cannot afford to neglect the aspirations of the North Sudanese for a democratic regime.

Click here to read the full article by Ms. Gomes.

North Korea on the Brink

Author of 'North Korea on the Brink: Struggle for Survival' (2008, Pluto Press) and former MEP, Glyn Ford has extensive experience in Asia and specifically North Korea. In his contribution to the PN newsletter, Mr. Ford shared his views on the tensions between North and South Korea, its repercussions across East Asia and the so far unsuccessful attempts of finding a solution to the problem.

According to Mr. Ford, the EU, more than the US, has a higher likelihood of contributing to the solution of the North/South Korean situation. He pointed to the EU’s humanitarian and development assistance to North Korea and the country’s support for EU integration as an opportunity for further engagement with the reclusive state.

Mr. Ford recommended a similar approach to that of the German re-unification process for North and South Korea – use of ‘semi-neutral’ parties to oversee the establishment of confidence and security measures to meet their shared common interests and need for security. At the same time, he acknowledged that ultimately the process would also require the engagement of the US.

Click here to read the entire article by Mr. Glyn Ford.

The Need for an EU Strategy for South Caucasus

In his recent report "The Need for an EU Strategy for South Caucasus" presented to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, Evgeni Kirilov (MEP from Bulgaria and rapporteur on South Caucasus) calls on the EU to devise a clear and proactive strategy for the South Caucasus.

Mr. Kirilov outlines concrete recommendations on how the EU should progress to address the unresolved conflicts in Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh, conflicts which could potentially undermine the stability of the region. The report also highlights the need to support democratisation efforts in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and calls for the EU to support economic cooperation in the region.

MEP Kirilov calls on the EU to make cooperation with the South Caucasus a priority because of the geopolitical importance of the region as an energy, communications and transport corridor.

Click here to read Mr. Kirilov's report summary.

EDITORIAL

Conflict Prevention and the European External Action Service

INTERVIEWS

Russia, NATO and the Euro-Atlantic Security Strategy, with W. Ischinger

Insights into challenges of women MPs in Afghanistan, with S. Karokhail

FEATURED ARTICLES

The EU and Sudan

North Korea on the Brink

The need for an EU strategy for South Caucasus

NEW NETWORK MEMBERS

Dr. Jack McConnell MSP
Scottish Parliament

Ms. Ulrike Lunacek
Member European Parliament (Austria)

Mr. Holger Haibach
German Bundestag

PARLIAMENTARIANS NETWORK INITIATIVES

Working Group on Euro-Atlantic Security

The Parliamentarians Network is pleased to introduce its newly created Euro-Atlantic Security Working Group, facilitated by Angelika Beer, Chair of the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security.

The Euro-Atlantic Security Working Group will engage parliamentarians from around the world (in particular, those involved in Euro-Atlantic Security) through a series of private meetings and debates, to focus on overcoming the renewed tensions in the Euro-Atlantic area and to enhance collaboration in addressing traditional and new security challenges in the region.

If you are interested in receiving more information about this Working Group, please contact Ms. Angelika Beer (abeer@ewi.info)